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November 05, 2008

usaha memburukkan imej Islam?

THE Australian Muslim community has accused the Federal Government and police of double standards over their treatment of a free online game in which the aim is to kill as many Muslims as possible.

Keysar Trad, president of the Islamic Friendship Association, wrote to Attorney-General Robert McClelland expressing outrage over the game, Muslim Massacre, saying it teaches young people to "further hate Muslims" and encourages them to carry out "acts of discrimination, vilification or outright violence against Australian Muslims".

The game, launched as a free download on the anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, invites players to take control of an American "hero" and "wipe out the Muslim race with an arsenal of the world's most destructive weapons".

The game was created by Eric Vaughan, a 22-year-old programmer from Brisbane who is a part-time service station attendant.

In an email interview, Mr Vaughan said he had not been contacted by the police or Government over the game.

"People will think I am a terrible person, but I believe that Muslims' regard in society is now just that little bit more accepting because of what I have done," Mr Vaughan said.

In his letter, Mr Trad said he believed Muslim Massacre was a breach of the sedition provisions of counter-terrorism laws and laws that prevent the incitement of violence against sections of Australian society.

In its response to Mr Trad the Attorney-General's department gave an explanation of Australia's content classification and racial discrimination laws and the government bodies in charge of them.

Mr Trad accused the Government and police of applying counter-terrorism laws selectively. "I could imagine what would have occurred if the game had been developed, God forbid, by a Muslim with Western people as the targets. The people would have been immediately subjected to criminal prosecution," he said.

The Attorney-General's Department said it was up to the Australian Federal Police to investigate whether the game breached sedition laws.

Mr Trad said he received a response from the Federal Police "telling me that I can complain to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) if I wished".

But it is unlikely ACMA can do anything to have the game removed from the net as it is not hosted on Australian servers.

A Queensland Police spokesman said the game had been examined and "no offence was detected", but it had been referred to authorities in Canada where the game is hosted.